Impact of surgical menopause with and without hormone replacement on weight changes in women

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Abstract

To determine the effect of estrogen on weight changes in women, eight
adult females were followed for a period of six months subsequent to hysterectomy or ovariohysterectomy. Three groups comprised the study: 1) a hysterectomy or control group, 2) an ovariohysterectomy group with estrogen replacement therapy, and 3) an ovariohysterectomy without estrogen treatment group. Body weight, caloric intake, and activity level were recorded for the eight prospective subjects over the six
month period. Weight data were gathered from past medical records on
an additional 19 patients meeting the treatment criteria. Weight changes
between groups were not statistically significant. A trend in weight
changes among the groups was noted. The hysterectomy group lost five
pounds, ovariohysterectomy treated group lost one pound and the untreated group, 0.2 pound. The same trend in weight changes was noted
when data from prospective and retrospective subjects were combined. Caloric intake and activity levels did not explain all changes noted.
Detailed information on subjects was presented as case studies. The results supported the concept that endogenous estrogen protects against
weight gain; evidence did not support the comparable action of exogenous estrogen. Subjects having ovariohysterectomy stated that they
experienced appetite changes such as cravings for sweets, undesirable muscle tone and body contour changes, and difficulty in ability to control weight. Further research with a larger sample size is needed to determine direct relationships between female hormones and suppression
of weight gain in women.